Westerly, RI Family Photographer

Updated May 2026

By KT, Rhode Island and Cape Cod family photographer for 13+ years

As a Westerly, RI family photographer, I can tell you that this town rewards the families willing to treat their session like a small adventure. The parking isn’t always easy, and most of the best spots require a walk to get to. But that’s part of what makes Westerly so good. There’s no single famous beach everyone funnels into. There are five or six genuinely different places to be, each with its own feel, and the walk to get there is often where some of the best moments happen. Whether we’re making our way out to the wild dunes at Napatree Point, starting down the bluff path at East Beach in Watch Hill, riding the Flying Horse Carousel through the village, wandering the grounds of the Ocean House, or letting the kids disappear into the weeping beech trees at Wilcox Park, Rhode Island’s South County consistently delivers some of the best family photography I do all year..

Best Family Photo Locations in Westerly, RI:

1. Napatree Point: best for wild dunes, open ocean, no houses in the frame
2. East Beach, Watch Hill: best for wide sandy beach, bluff path, iconic New England backdrops
3. Watch Hill Village: best for lifestyle sessions with kids: carousel, ice cream, harbor views
4. Ocean House: best for elevated, formal family portraits with a luxury property backdrop
5. Wilcox Park: best for garden sessions, spring and fall, families with younger kids

Napatree Point Westerly, RI Family Photographer

Napatree Point is the kind of place that earns its reputation. It sits at the far western tip of Watch Hill, a narrow barrier spit stretching into Little Narragansett Bay, and getting there takes a little doing. The walk from the nearest public parking is about half a mile, unless you’re lucky enough to be a member at Misquamicut Club, in which case you’re right there. The first part of the walk is paved, then it transitions to a sandy path along the harbor, where kids tend to stop and look for clams and crabs, then up and over a small dune hill onto a wide open beach with nothing behind it but water. No houses, no permanent structures. Just dunes, sea grass, and, on the right evening, colorful kite surfers out on the water. You can see the Watch Hill Lighthouse from the beach, which gives you a sense of just how far out you’ve walked.

You don’t need to hike all the way out to get great photos. The dunes nearest the access point are beautiful, and the light off the harbor is lovely in the late afternoon. But plan for a round trip of one to one and a half miles if you want the full experience. The paid lot on Larkin Road is about a half mile away, and free two-hour street parking can be found in downtown Watch Hill, also roughly a half mile out. I’d skip this spot for families with infants in strollers, as the loose sand on the beach path makes it a workout. Come in summer or early fall, aim for golden hour, and give yourself time to let the walk become part of the session.

Ready to plan a Napatree session? Get in touch →

East Beach Watch Hill Family Photographer

East Beach is one of my favorite places to begin a Watch Hill session, and I almost always start at the corner of Bluff Avenue and Larkin Road, where a narrow path curves through lush greenery down to the water. In June, the whole thing is lined with beach roses, which is pretty hard to beat. The path opens onto a wide sandy beach with the Ocean House on one side and Taylor Swift’s house on the other. The rocks out front are fair game. The combination of open sand, dune grass, and rocky shoreline makes this one of the most versatile spots in Westerly. You can play in the water, do quieter dune-grass portraits, or use the Ocean House as a backdrop for something more elevated.

Parking is the same story as Napatree: the paid Larkin lot is about a tenth of a mile from the path, and free street parking downtown Watch Hill is around a third of a mile. Summer is the prime season here. The beach crowds die down in the evening, and the light gets soft, which is my favorite time to be there. Because East Beach and Watch Hill Village are so close, it’s easy to build a session that covers both. Start on the path, walk the beach, then head into the village for carousel rides and ice cream before the light fades.

This is the spot for families who want their photos to look like their actual life. Send me a note →

Watch Hill Village Family Photos

Watch Hill Village is the spot I recommend when a family wants their session to feel less like a photoshoot and more like an afternoon they actually had. The village is small and walkable, and almost everything in it is interesting to a kid: the harbor with its boats, the shops along Bay Street, the trail out toward Napatree, where you can wade in the tidal pools for crabs and clams. And then there’s the Flying Horse Carousel, the oldest operating carousel in the United States, built in 1876, which sits right in the heart of the village and is exactly as charming as it sounds. Kids can ride the horses on the inside, or choose an outside horse where older kids can try to grab the brass ring for a free ride. Tickets are purchased at a booth next to the carousel before you board. St. Clair Annex, the village ice cream shop, is right nearby and open May through October, worth building into the session if you have younger kids who need a little motivation.

The lifestyle and documentary quality you can get here is genuinely different from anything a beach session offers. Parking is the same situation as East Beach. The Larkin lot and downtown street parking are both a short walk away, and because the village itself is so compact, once you’re there, you’re there. This location is good from the end of May through early October, with easier parking and fewer crowds in the shoulder seasons. It’s also a natural pairing with East Beach or Napatree if you want variety across the session.

Ocean House Family Photographer Westerly, RI

The Ocean House sits on the bluff above East Beach and is one of the most iconic properties in Rhode Island. For families staying at the Ocean House or the Ocean House Cottages, the grounds make an exclusive backdrop for a family session. You’re already there, and the grounds are immaculate. The building’s bright yellow exterior looks stunning against the blue ocean and sky, which doesn’t hurt when it ends up in the background of your photos. Outside spaces available for photography include the lawn, Adirondack chairs, the boardwalk down to the beach, the croquet court, the fire pit area, and the gardens. There are also beautiful exterior staircases that photograph well for more structured family groupings.

This location is for Ocean House and Ocean House Cottage guests only. Access to the grounds requires a key card, and I’d recommend checking in with the front desk to confirm photography is permitted during your stay. Some interior common areas and the restaurant are off-limits for sessions, which is reasonable. This is the location I’d suggest for families who want something with a more formal or elevated feel. The property does a lot of the visual work, and the resulting photos have a scale and polish that’s harder to replicate on a public beach. Summer is the prime season, though the grounds are beautiful in the shoulder seasons as well.

Wilcox Park, Westerly Family Photos

Wilcox Park is 15 acres of beautifully maintained arboretum in the middle of downtown Westerly, and it’s the spot I recommend when a family wants something that has nothing to do with sand in anyone’s shoes. The park has mature trees and winding paths, stone stairways, small bridges, a pond, and a cutting garden that fills with dahlias in August and September. The feature I love most is a massive weeping beech tree whose branches sweep all the way to the ground, creating a kind of cave inside: dark and cool and covered in decades of carved initials. Kids discover it and immediately want to live there.

This is the location I’d suggest for families who find the beach a little stressful. There’s no wind, no waves to chase a toddler away from, and parking is easier than at Watch Hill, with free street spots available around the library and along the downtown perimeter. Dogs are welcome. It’s also a good option if the weather comes in off the water and the beach locations aren’t workable. The tree canopy provides natural cover, and the light inside the park stays soft even on overcast days. The dahlias peak in August and September, and the tree canopy turns in the fall, making it one of the better spots in Westerly for an autumn session.

Fall sessions at Wilcox Park book up fast. Check my availability →

What to Expect from a Westerly Family Session with Brave Hearts

A Westerly session with me runs about an hour. That’s enough time to move through a few spots at an unhurried pace, let the kids play, and get the range of images most families are after: a family portrait and the more fun in-between moments. Sessions are $850 and include 50+ professionally edited high-resolution images delivered in a private online gallery within two weeks. Digital downloads and a print release for personal use are included. Prints, canvases, and wall art are available à la carte through the gallery shop if you want something for the wall.

One thing I hear constantly from Westerly families before we start: “We’re not good at this.” The husband who agreed under duress. The seven-year-old who has decided she hates cameras this year specifically. The toddler who is currently running directly into the ocean. I’ve been doing this for 13 years, and I promise you, none of that is a problem. My sessions run on prompts and play rather than posed directions. I might ask the kids who has the stinkiest farts, or tell Dad to try to carry everyone at once, or just let the whole thing unfold while I stay out of the way and wait for the moment when everyone forgets I’m there. That moment always comes. The photos you get from it are the ones you’ll actually put on the wall.

Westerly’s beach locations are best from late June through September, with two hours before sunset being the ideal time to start. Wilcox Park is a strong choice in May, early June, and September through October.

Westerly, RI Family Photography FAQs

When is the best time of year for family photos in Westerly, RI? May through October. High summer is the best time for the beach locations. East Beach and Napatree are at their best when it’s warm. The Ocean House grounds are beautiful in the shoulder seasons as well. Wilcox Park is a strong choice in spring and fall, and particularly beautiful in late August and September when the dahlia cutting garden is in full bloom and again when the tree canopy turns in October. I photograph in Westerly regularly through the end of the month.

What time of day is best for Westerly beach sessions? I like to start about two hours before sunset. The crowds thin out, parking gets easier, and the light turns soft and golden. It’s the best window of the day down there.

Do I need a permit to photograph at any of these locations? No permit is required for personal family photography at Napatree Point, East Beach, Watch Hill Village, or Wilcox Park. The Ocean House is private property and requires guest access. Families staying at the hotel or cottages should check with the front desk for current photography guidelines.

How far in advance should I book a Westerly family photographer? Weekend dates fill up a couple of months in advance, especially in July and August. Weekday evenings can usually be found a few weeks out. If you’re planning around a specific vacation week, lock in the session as soon as your rental is confirmed.

What should we wear for a Westerly beach session? Be comfortable and don’t stress about matching. Once you’re booked, I’m happy to review outfit options with you before the session.

What if my kids won’t cooperate? They almost never cooperate at the start. That’s completely normal and not a problem. I don’t need them to perform. I need them to be themselves, which they eventually can’t help but do. Give it ten minutes and a little room to run, and we’ll be just fine.

Can we include grandparents or extended family in the session? Yes. I have a slightly longer session designed for multi-generational or multi-household families. Those sessions typically spend more time on portrait groupings and less time on candid play. [Get in touch][Contact page link] to talk through the details.

What’s the backup plan if it rains? If the forecast is calling for steady rain, we’ll reschedule. Overcast or misty days are actually beautiful for portraits, and I’m happy to shoot in that light.

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Book Your Westerly Family Session

If you’ve made it this far, you probably already know which spot is calling you. The earlier the better when it comes to booking, especially in summer.

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Not sure which location is right for your family? Tell me a little about your kids and what you’re after, and I’ll point you in the right direction.